Kamala mills owner questioned by Police

Mumbai: The NM Joshi police questioned the owner of Kamala Mills Ramesh Govani, for allegedly allowing the illegal extensions in the premises at Lower Parel’s Kamala Mill compound. A fire erupted on December 29 at two pubs located in the compound killing 14 persons. The police had summoned Govani for an initial enquiry after registering an FIR against him but he allegedly did not respond to queries, according to police sources. The FIR against Govani on Saturday was registered under sections of the Maharashtra Regional, and Town Planning (MRTP) Act after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) complained about the illegal extensions that were constructed in the Kamala Mills compound.

Acting on the BMC’s complaint, three fresh FIRs were registered by the NM Joshi police station on Saturday as part of its probe into Friday’s fire that gutted two pubs — 1 Above and Mojo’s Bistro — at Kamala Mills compound in Lower Parel. The first FIR was against the Kamala Mills’ owner Ramesh Govani. Taking the probe forward, the police had called Mr Govani for questioning, but the accused appeared before the police for only 15 minutes.

Mr Govani, who is in his mid-fifties, stayed mum during questioning when the cops asked him about the illegal extension in the premises of the Kamala Mills Compound, which is owned by him.

The police is still investigating the case registered against the Kamala Mills’ owner Ramesh Govani, Mojo’s Bistro’s co-owners Duke Tulli and Yug Pathak, and the owners of a food joint (P-22) at Raghuvanshi Mill.